Penstemon

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Penstemon is one of the perennial plants, in total there are about two hundred and fifty different varieties of this plant in the genus. It is noteworthy that some types of penstemon are annuals.

In height, this plant can reach about twenty centimeters-one meter. In color, penstemon flowers can be either blue and white, or red, orange, pink and even purple. It should be noted that the flowers of this plant are odorless. Flowering is especially decorative, and also long-lasting: flowering will last about one and a half months. It should be noted that some types of penstemon are capable of blooming even twice during the same season.

Description of the features of the care and cultivation of penstemon

It should be noted that this plant does not require special care for the favorable development, and besides this, penstemon will also have a fairly high resistance to various diseases and pests. With regard to soil selection, it is required to select light, acidic and well-drained soils. It is noteworthy that penstemone can also grow on very poor soils. Watering the plant will be required in a moderate mode, and on especially hot days, watering should be provided in abundant mode. It should be noted that this plant does not require frequent watering, which is due to the fact that penstemon is one of the drought-resistant plants. In addition, it is important to remember that an excessive amount of moisture can have an extremely negative effect on the development of this plant. But. Some species, such as sprawling penstemon, prefer a slightly damp substrate.

As for the ground cover varieties of this plant, they need regular pruning, otherwise they will grow very much. Among other things, additional feeding is also required through complex mineral fertilizers, which must be applied throughout the entire flowering period every two weeks. In the spring and during planting, it is recommended to apply organic fertilizers: both rotted manure and humus can act in this capacity.

In the autumn, the ground part of the plant should be cut off. Some varieties of this plant are particularly resistant to winter temperatures, for this reason they do not need shelter for the winter. However, most penstemon species need shelter, such as dry foliage or spruce branches. It is noteworthy that in one place this plant can grow for five years, after which the plant will lose its amazing decorative effect and it will be necessary to renew the planting again.

Breeding penstemon

Reproduction of this plant can occur both by dividing the bush and seeds, and by cuttings. As for sowing seeds, they will need preliminary stratification for one month: the seeds should be sown either before winter or in the spring. For seedlings, it is recommended to sow seeds in moist and light soil, and on top of the crops should be sprinkled with a layer of sand of three millimeters. Seeds are germinated under glass or under a film, while the temperature regime should be about eighteen to twenty-two degrees Celsius. After the first shoots appear, the temperature should be lowered to about fifteen degrees Celsius. When two leaves appear, the penstemon seedlings should be dived into separate containers. Already at the end of May, it is recommended to transplant seedlings into open ground. It is noteworthy that when choosing reproduction in this way, the flowering of the plant will begin after a year or two.